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Brown-Forman (BF.B) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Miss
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Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) has delivered second-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein earnings topped estimates while sales lagged. This marked the company’s sixth straight quarter of earnings beat. However, sales missed estimates after five consecutive beats.
Earnings per share of 52 cents increased 4% year over year and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents.
Net sales were flat year over year at $910 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $931.1 million. Sales were aided by strong consumer demand for its premium American whiskey brands, led by Jack Daniel’s and supported by Woodford Reserve. This was mostly offset by a negative currency impact.
On an underlying basis (excluding negative currency impact and other adjustments), sales increased 3%, marking the ninth straight quarterly growth. Underlying net sales for the fiscal second quarter included negative impact of nearly two percentage points from tariff-related inventory reductions (giveback) linked to the fiscal first quarter’s tariff-driven buy-ins.
Brown-Forman Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Looking at year-to-date results, underlying sales improved 5% in the first half, including gains from tariff-related buy-ins in the fiscal first quarter, offset by the anticipated giveback materializing in the fiscal second quarter.
The company’s robust underlying sales performance can be attributed to broad-based growth across geographies and balanced contribution from its portfolio of brands. On a geographic basis, year-to-date underlying sales grew 5% in developed international markets, 10% in emerging markets and 3% in the United States. Growth across the company’s portfolio was led by Jack Daniel’s family of brands, which reported 5% underlying sales growth year to date. Underlying sales for the company’s super-premium American whiskey brands grew 19% while Herradura and el Jimador grew 15% and 11%, respectively.
Overall, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have lost 11.4% in the past year, narrower than the industry’s decline of 20.1%.
Quarter in Detail
Brown-Forman’s gross profit declined nearly 3% to $590 million while gross margin contracted 190 basis points (bps) to 64.8%. On an underlying basis, gross profit increased 1%.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses dipped about 1% year over year to $161 million while increasing 1% on an underlying basis. The rise in SG&A expenses can be attributed to higher personnel costs. Additionally, advertising expenses declined 7% year over year to $102 million and were flat on an underlying basis.
Operating income declined 5% to $332 million, with operating margin contracting 170 bps to 36.5%. On an underlying basis, operating income remained flat.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Brown-Forman ended second-quarter fiscal 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $193 million, and long-term debt of $2,288 million. The company’s total shareholders’ equity was $1,497 million as of Oct 31, 2018.
In the first half of fiscal 2019, the company generated $272 million in cash from operating activities.
During the fiscal second quarter, the company bought back about 2.6 million of class A and class B shares for $122 million. As of Oct 31, it had about $78 million worth of authorization remaining under its $200-million share repurchase program.
On Nov 15, the company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16.6 cents per share on Class A and Class B shares, reflecting an increase of 5.1% from the prior dividend rate of 15.8 cents. The raised dividend is payable on Jan 2, 2019.
Fiscal 2019 Outlook
The company believes that the global economic environment has improved in the past year, with favorable conditions in many emerging markets. However, it notes that competition has intensified in the developed economies alongside rising concerns related to the recently enacted retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey. This made the prediction of the company’s near-term results difficult.
For fiscal 2019, the company continues to expect earnings per share of $1.65-$1.75, assuming tariffs to remain in place for the fiscal year.
Moreover, the company projects underlying sales growth of 6-7%. In fiscal 2019, it expects underlying SG&A expenses to remain flat while underlying A&P is expected to increase in line with underlying sales growth. Additionally, underlying operating income is anticipated to increase 4-6%.
Looking for Better-Ranked Consumer Staples Stocks? Check These
Helen of Troy Limited (HELE - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 company, has an average long-term EPS growth rate of 6.1%.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, is expected to witness average long-term EPS growth rate of 11.9%.
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Brown-Forman (BF.B) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Miss
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) has delivered second-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein earnings topped estimates while sales lagged. This marked the company’s sixth straight quarter of earnings beat. However, sales missed estimates after five consecutive beats.
Earnings per share of 52 cents increased 4% year over year and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents.
Net sales were flat year over year at $910 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $931.1 million. Sales were aided by strong consumer demand for its premium American whiskey brands, led by Jack Daniel’s and supported by Woodford Reserve. This was mostly offset by a negative currency impact.
On an underlying basis (excluding negative currency impact and other adjustments), sales increased 3%, marking the ninth straight quarterly growth. Underlying net sales for the fiscal second quarter included negative impact of nearly two percentage points from tariff-related inventory reductions (giveback) linked to the fiscal first quarter’s tariff-driven buy-ins.
Brown-Forman Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Brown-Forman Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Brown-Forman Corporation Quote
Looking at year-to-date results, underlying sales improved 5% in the first half, including gains from tariff-related buy-ins in the fiscal first quarter, offset by the anticipated giveback materializing in the fiscal second quarter.
The company’s robust underlying sales performance can be attributed to broad-based growth across geographies and balanced contribution from its portfolio of brands. On a geographic basis, year-to-date underlying sales grew 5% in developed international markets, 10% in emerging markets and 3% in the United States. Growth across the company’s portfolio was led by Jack Daniel’s family of brands, which reported 5% underlying sales growth year to date. Underlying sales for the company’s super-premium American whiskey brands grew 19% while Herradura and el Jimador grew 15% and 11%, respectively.
Overall, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have lost 11.4% in the past year, narrower than the industry’s decline of 20.1%.
Quarter in Detail
Brown-Forman’s gross profit declined nearly 3% to $590 million while gross margin contracted 190 basis points (bps) to 64.8%. On an underlying basis, gross profit increased 1%.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses dipped about 1% year over year to $161 million while increasing 1% on an underlying basis. The rise in SG&A expenses can be attributed to higher personnel costs. Additionally, advertising expenses declined 7% year over year to $102 million and were flat on an underlying basis.
Operating income declined 5% to $332 million, with operating margin contracting 170 bps to 36.5%. On an underlying basis, operating income remained flat.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Brown-Forman ended second-quarter fiscal 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $193 million, and long-term debt of $2,288 million. The company’s total shareholders’ equity was $1,497 million as of Oct 31, 2018.
In the first half of fiscal 2019, the company generated $272 million in cash from operating activities.
During the fiscal second quarter, the company bought back about 2.6 million of class A and class B shares for $122 million. As of Oct 31, it had about $78 million worth of authorization remaining under its $200-million share repurchase program.
On Nov 15, the company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16.6 cents per share on Class A and Class B shares, reflecting an increase of 5.1% from the prior dividend rate of 15.8 cents. The raised dividend is payable on Jan 2, 2019.
Fiscal 2019 Outlook
The company believes that the global economic environment has improved in the past year, with favorable conditions in many emerging markets. However, it notes that competition has intensified in the developed economies alongside rising concerns related to the recently enacted retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey. This made the prediction of the company’s near-term results difficult.
For fiscal 2019, the company continues to expect earnings per share of $1.65-$1.75, assuming tariffs to remain in place for the fiscal year.
Moreover, the company projects underlying sales growth of 6-7%. In fiscal 2019, it expects underlying SG&A expenses to remain flat while underlying A&P is expected to increase in line with underlying sales growth. Additionally, underlying operating income is anticipated to increase 4-6%.
Looking for Better-Ranked Consumer Staples Stocks? Check These
Constellation Brands (STZ - Free Report) has an average long-term EPS growth rate of 11% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Helen of Troy Limited (HELE - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 company, has an average long-term EPS growth rate of 6.1%.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, is expected to witness average long-term EPS growth rate of 11.9%.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>